For many of us, saving money has never been a natural instinct. It’s a skill we develop over time, often after making a few costly financial mistakes. These lessons—sometimes painful—become the “ah-ha” moments that push us to face our financial reality head-on. Our journey to financial stability was no different.
While I’ve always been cautious with money, I didn’t truly understand how to save effectively until later in life. It wasn’t about wanting to splurge; I just never paid much attention to where my money was going. As long as my checking account wasn’t empty, I thought I was doing fine. Spoiler alert: I wasn’t.
“Get Real” Moment #1
When Holly and I first started dating, I was struggling financially. I was a broke actor living in Chicago, and my money went straight to rent, groceries, and the occasional beer. By the end of each month, my bank account was nearly drained, and I often relied on my credit card to cover groceries or a night out. I made the minimum payments each month, thinking I was managing my finances well enough.
But it wasn’t long before I accumulated a couple thousand dollars in credit card debt. As I was preparing for marriage, Holly wasn’t exactly thrilled with my financial situation. She told me it was time to face the reality of our finances.
With her support, we transferred the debt to a 0% interest balance transfer card with no fees. We committed to paying it off over a few months. By the time we got married, my credit card balance was gone, and I’ve never carried a balance since. Lesson learned: sometimes a little push is all you need to change your habits.
“Get Real” Moment #2
Between 2010 and 2011, Holly and I had saved around $10,000 in our first year of marriage. We were pleased with our progress, but we couldn’t seem to save more after that. Despite earning a good income, our savings stagnated. It was frustrating—we were doing okay, but not where we wanted to be.
So, we decided to dig deeper and start tracking our spending. What we uncovered was both eye-opening and unsettling: we were spending over $1,000 a month on food for just the two of us.
That was the moment we knew we had to get real. We began cutting back on dining out, using coupons, shopping sales, and eating more affordable meals. Most importantly, we started budgeting. The results were immediate. Watching our savings grow motivated us to find even more ways to cut expenses. We ditched cable, canceled unnecessary subscriptions, and stopped going out as much. We directed all the extra money toward paying off our debts, and within a year, we were debt-free.
This “get real” moment was the turning point for us. It wasn’t just about cutting expenses—it sparked a new approach to saving and making money. It was the catalyst for starting this blog and the reason we’re now pursuing careers we never would have imagined five years ago. Looking back, though the process was tough at times, the lessons we learned are invaluable, and I wouldn’t change a thing.
Conclusion
We all face moments that force us to get real about our finances. These moments can be difficult, but they often lead to powerful changes that put us on the path to financial success. Whether it’s facing debt head-on or reassessing how we spend, the most important thing is to take action. For us, those moments changed everything—and they could do the same for you.
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